Beginning Labor Day weekend, the Boulder area kicks off the fall season with a packed calendar of fall festivals and events. Downtown Boulder Fall Festival, Street Wise Mural Festival or the Mapleton Hill Porchfest are all back in Boulder. Up in Estes Park, check out the Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Festival, the Autumn Gold Fest, and Elk Fest. Longmont will be celebrating Day of the Dead and Pumpkin Pie Days while Superior brings back its famous Chili Fest! Here’s the full list of fall festivals in and around Boulder in 2022.
Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival
When: September 9 – 11, 2022, full schedule here.
Celebrate your Scottish or Irish heritage by participating in the Long’s Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival in Estes Park, Colorado! The festival features athletic games and pipe bands, as well as jousting and dance competitions. In addition, various Celtic rock, folk, and traditional musicians will be performing. Eighty participating Scottish and Irish clans will be participating in the games this year. Pageantry and patriotism, spirit and spectacle, talent and teamwork all combine in this awesome display of music and might. Kids will love the games, the parade, the dog show, and the amazing food! The festival will be held at Stanley Park Fairgrounds, tickets are available here.
Downtown Boulder Fall Fest & Firefly Handmade Market
When: September 16 – 18, 2022, for the full schedule click here.
Downtown Boulder’s Fall Fest is one of Boulder’s most beloved community celebrations. This 3-day autumn festival features food, brews, and music with the added excitement of children’s activities. Firefly Handmade Markets will be there, featuring carefully and creatively curated to feature returning favorite and emerging artisans with home goods & décor; jewelry & accessories; adult & children’s fashion; skin care; ceramics; art; artisanal food; paper goods; and more. Free parking Saturday and Sunday in the City of Boulder Parking Garages. Fall Fest is held on the Pearl Street Mall. Another free event on our list of things to do in Boulder in September!
Longmont Fall ArtWalk
When: September 10, 2022, from 4 – 8 PM
Longmont presents ArtWalk on Main, featuring five stages of live music, five blocks of fun, shopping, local art, and activities! More information here. This event is free and will be held in downtown Longmont.
Broomfield Days
When: Saturday, September 17, 2022, from 7 AM – 5 PM
Broomfield’s biggest community event, Broomfield Days, is back with a parade, live music, food, local vendors, and more! Activities and entertainment throughout the day include a 5K race, clown contest, parade, trade fair, craft festival, food booths, three stages of entertainment, demonstrations, and great community spirit. Broomfield Days is held at Midway Park, W Midway Blvd & Kohl St, Broomfield, CO 80020. Another free event on our list of things to do in Boulder in September!
Superior Chili and Beer Fest
When: September 17, 2022, 2 PM – 6 PM
The Town of Superior and the Rotary Club of Boulder Valley are once again hosting the Town’s biggest event of the year—Chili Fest! This year’s event features two live bands, food trucks, beer (cider and seltzer) sampling from local breweries, a super-sized kids’ zone, and local vendors coordinated by the Superior Chamber. General entry is FREE. Beer Fest and VIP tickets are on sale now, more info here. Another free event on our list of things to do in Boulder in September!
Oktoberfest 5k at Wibby Brewing
When: September 17, 2022, at 10 AM
Join the Colorado Brewery Running Series™ for the Oktoberfest 5k at Wibby Brewing for a 5k-ish, fun run event that starts and ends at this awesome taproom in Longmont. Run, walk, jog – whatever goes! Complete the course and celebrate with us and a free local craft brew at the finish line.
20th Annual Erie Biscuit Day
When: Saturday, September 17, 2022, from 8 AM – 12 PM
At the 20th Annual Erie Biscuit Day, enjoy some Biscuits and Gravy, Homemade Stew, Live music, a cake walk, raffle drawing, craft booths, historic photos, and more! Festivities will be held in Historic Downtown Erie, all proceeds benefit Erie Historical Society. This event is held in Downtown Erie on Briggs Street. Another free event on our list of things to do in Boulder in September!
Mapleton Hill Porchfest
When: Sunday, September 18, 2022, from 1 PM – 4:30 PM
The Annual Mapleton Hill PorchFest is a musical walkabout that is the envy of all the other neighborhoods. Like last year’s event which drew about 800 people, the event will include 20 different bands of many styles, playing their hearts out on local porches. Do you like bluegrass? Jazz? Classical? Blues? Folk? Of course you do, so plan on attending to hear some of our best local bands. Stroll the beautiful historic Mapleton Hill neighborhood, enjoy the entertainment, meet up with old friends and make new friends. This event is held at the Historic Mapleton Hill Neighborhood. This event FREE.
Anderson Farms Fall Festival
When: September 21 – October 31, 2022
Anderson Farms is hosting its annual Fall Festival, complete with a pumpkin patch, hayrides and so much more! Admission includes a ton of fun activities such as Colorado’s longest-running 30-acre corn maze, hayride to the pumpkin patch, pumpkin launching, mine cars, barrel train, farm animals, farm lights, and more. Click here for a full list of activities. For those who enjoy a fright, after dark Anderson Farms hosts Zombie Paintball Hunt, a unique paintball experience where you shoot zombies throughout the cornfield while riding on a zombie wagon, or check out Terror in the Corn, Anderson Farms’ haunted hayride, cornfield & ghost town experience. Anderson Farms is located at 6728 County Rd 3 1/4, Erie, CO 80516. Looking for a pumpkin patch? We’ve got you covered with all the pumpkin patches in the Boulder area.
Longmont Oktoberfest
When: September 23 – 24, 2022
Longmont Oktoberfest is back at The Garden at Left Hand Brewing Company. Attendees can expect great brews, live music, and tasty local food vendors every evening with special Oktoberfest-themed activities and all-day music line-ups on both Saturday and Sunday. More details here.
Enchanted Forest at Wild Bear Nature Center
When: Saturday, September 24, 2022, from 11AM – 6PM
Wild Bear Nature Center will be hosting its 21st annual Enchanted Forest! This is the Year of the Fox! Enjoy the magic of the fall season! Families and children of all ages take a tour on the trail and meet forest creatures (costumed characters) and learn about their natural habitats. Enjoy goodies in your goody bag, live owls and eagles, magic and music throughout the day. Enjoy drinks and live music 4-6pm. Visit the form at the bottom of the page to purchase tickets! The Enchanted Forest will be held at Wild Bear’s new property at Mud Lake across from the Caribou Room, 2034 Co Rd 126, Nederland, CO 80466.
Bee Boulder Festival
When: Saturday, September 24, 2022, from 10 AM – 2 PM
Join the City of Boulder for the 8th annual FREE family-focused festival celebrating Pollinator Appreciation Month at the Boulder Bee Fest. Connect with local organizations BBB Seed, BeeChicas, Boulder Public Library, Community Fruit Rescue, CU Museum of Natural History, CU Science Discovery, Garden To Table, Goss/Grove Neighborhood Assoc., Growing Gardens, and Hive-Tech Solutions. Sing along with Jeff & Paige at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.! Presented by City of Boulder Parks and Recreation and Planning and Housing Services. This event will be held at Central Park West in Boulder’s Civic Area. Another free event on our list of things to do in Boulder in September!
Estes Park Autumn Gold Festival
When: September 24 & 25, 2022, 11 AM – 6:00 PM
Autumn Gold Festival is Estes Park’s fall celebration – a Festival of Bands, Brats & Beer. Entrance is free to dance, listen to music and enjoy the festival. The Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary will be offering mustard-smothered bratwursts, cold brews, soft drinks and more as talented local musicians and award-winning Colorado bands play. Browse the vendor booths who will be offering corn on the cob, funnel cakes, fresh squeezed lemonade, roasted almonds and desserts. Free family activities include face painting, corn bag toss, a bounce house and a classic car show. For all the details, click here. The Autumn Gold Festival is held at Bond Park, 170 MacGregor Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517.
Street Wise Art-ivism Mural Festival
When: September 29 – October 2, 2022
Street Wise Boulder ARTivism Mural Festival is back on the streets of Boulder in 2022. Street Wise Boulder is a nonprofit designed to amplify artist voices and use the power of art as a means to connect, spark change, and build empathy within the community. 30+ incredible artists will be working all week long to give Boulder new visions for a rad future. As the murals go up, you are invited to (respectfully) watch the artists do their work, and see all the murals in their complexities and beauty. As you embark upon a self-guided, and self-paced walking or biking tour of the murals, you will be able to use QR codes to learn more about the artists and stories behind the art. Mural tour maps will be available on the website soon. Another free event on our list of things to do in Boulder in September!
YMCA of the Rockies Fall Festival
When: Saturday, October 1, 2022, from 1 – 4 PM
Celebrate the fall season with traditional autumn activities at the Estes Park YMCA of the Rockies Fall Fest! Enjoy pumpkin painting and crafts, make pinecone bird feeders, hay rides to view the fall foliage, and more! Gather the family for a fun afternoon of live music! For more information and to reserve accommodations, click here.
Erie Brewfest
When: Saturday, October 1, 2022 from 12 PM – 4 PM
Erie Chamber welcomes fall with the Erie Brewfest, featuring live music, amazing food, craft vendors, games and 15+ breweries in historic downtown Erie. For tickets and more info, click here.
Estes Park Elk Fest
When: October 1 & 2, 2022
To celebrate the annual elk rut and learn about the “wapiti,” the Native American name for elk, Estes Park hosts the annual Elk Fest in Bond Park. The free festival features bugling contests, elk exhibits, the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program, elk seminars, elk-inspired arts and crafts, live music, dancing and storytelling, a children’s area with elk-themed activities, and a craft beer garden. For safe & respectful elk viewing tips, please visit Estes Park’s Wildlife Watching page. Vendors will display artwork, and handmade elk-ivory jewelry, and food trucks will be on site. Elk Fest is held at Bond Park. The event is FREE.
Nederland Harvest Fest
When: Sunday, October 2, 2022, from 10 AM – 3 PM
The 6th Annual Harvest Fest takes over downtown Nederland in the parking lots and on E. 2nd Street with so many attractions to celebrate this year’s bountiful harvest. Live music from Banshee Tree and Goldwagon, 80+ food and artisan vendors, five food trucks, and a Biergarten. For the kids, enjoy pumpkin patches, face painting, excavation games, yak rides, a petting zoo, live painting, and more! Full details are available here.
Golden’s Autumn Fest
When: Sunday, October 2, 2022, from 10 AM – 3 PM
Golden History Museum & Park is hosting its first Autumn Fest to celebrate all of the things that make Golden a bright and shining community. Free family activities include incredible chalk art, hourly puppet shows (plus hands-on stations to make your own show), craft stations, silent movie viewing, 4-H petting zoo, craft stations, BIG TRUCK demo (Streets, Fire, and Police Departments), costumed Civil War interpretation, and more. Held at Golden History Museum, admission is free.
Longmont Dia de los Muertos Family Celebration & Exhibition
When: Family Celebration October 8, 2022, from 11 AM – 3 PM, Exhibition daily from October 8 – November 6, 2022
The Día de los Muertos Family Celebration will open the season in downtown Longmont on October 8. This street festival will include music and dance performances, art and craft activities, cultural education, delicious food, downtown business altars, and the Fire House Art Center Gigantes Procession. Park downtown or at the Longmont Museum and take the free shuttle between locations so you can enjoy all the activities of the day. The Día de los Muertos exhibition returns to the Museum’s Swan Atrium through November 6, featuring ofrendas (altars) built by community members and the work of local artist Marcelo Fernandez.
Pumpkin Pie Days: Vintage & Antique Market
When: October 8, 2022 from 10 AM -5 PM & October 9, 2021 from 11 AM -4 PM
Pumpkin Pie Days: Vintage & Antique Market will be held at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. The market features high-end dealers and collectors of furniture, books, primitives, décor, toys, fine jewelry, costume jewelry, vintage clothing, plus much, much more! The show also includes glass grinder, bake sale, and art show. Admissions and café sales benefit The St. Vrain Historical Society‘s mission of historic preservation and education in the community. Admission $10. Pumpkin Pie Days is held at Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Rd, Longmont, CO 80501.
Estes Park Pumpkins & Pilsners
When: Saturday, October 8, 2022, from 11 AM – 6 PM
The Pumpkins and Pilsners Festival has activities and entertainment for all ages, with proceeds going to local non-profit Families for Estes. The festival is the perfect place to pick your pumpkins with live music and craft beer for the adults, as well as games, crafts and a bounce house for the little ones. Enjoy additional free children’s activities like pony rides, face painting, kids art activity booths, pumpkin patch, bounce house, and giant lawn games. There will also be food vendors and food trucks, as well as live music. More information available here. Pumpkins and Pilsners will be held in Bond Park, 170 MacGregor Ave, Estes Park, CO. Admission is FREE.
Growing Gardens Community Harvest Festival
When: October 12, 2022, from 4 PM – 7 PM
Join Growing Gardens for its FREE fall celebration at the urban farm! Featuring fun activities like pumpkin and face painting, lawn games, dairy goats, and more. A bluegrass band will be performing while you enjoy delicious food from local food trucks and grab a drink from the Biergarten. There will also be pumpkins, fall perennials, and Long’s Gardens Iris bulbs for sale! Walk, bus, bike, or carpool and be entered to win an alternative transportation prize. No dogs at this event, please, they might scare the goats. This is a free event with a suggested donation of $5-$10/family. Rain Date: October 19th.
Rocky Mountain Craft Spirits Festival
When: Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 1 – 4 PM
The Rocky Mountain Craft Spirits Festival returns to Estes Park, celebrating Colorado’s homegrown distilleries. Showcasing the finest spirits the Colorado Rockies have to offer, this event will feature live music, bar games, talks featuring industry experts, and of course, craft spirit tasting. Admission includes a souvenir tasting glass. More information here.
Spooky Village at Village at the Peaks
When: Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 1 – 3 PM
Spooky Village is a FREE family fun festival is a Halloween event complete with trick or treating at Village at the Peaks. This year’s free activities include hay rides, craft stations, pumpkin decorating station, face painting, balloon twisting, goblin train rides, portrait stations, petting zoo, stilt walkers, caricature artists, carnival games, live entertainment on the village stage, and a trick-or-treat bag giveaway (while supplies last). Don’t forget Chuck and Don’s Pet Parade starts at 12:30 PM over at Chuck and Don’s! Bring your pet all dressed up to walk the parade! A professional photographer will be present to capture photos of the pets.
Boo! on Briggs Street
When: Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 3 PM – 6 PM
The Town of Erie presents Boo! on Briggs Street, featuring ghouls, ghosts, and witches! Oh my! Enjoy a spooktacular time with the entire family at our trick-or-treat event. There will be plenty of candy to go around with additional activities, including music and a costume contest! This is a FREE event for all ages, but there will be a small fee for contest entries. This event is held in Downtown Erie, Briggs Street between Moffat and Wells, Erie, CO 80516. This event is FREE.
Niwot’s Great Pumpkin Party
When: Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 10 AM – 1:30 PM
Niwot’s Great Pumpkin Party is a blast for the whole family! Costume up the kids, bring the kid-friendly dog, and head downtown for trick or treating, the parade, doggie costume contest, hay rides and more. View the full schedule here.
Longmont Halloween Parade
When: Saturday, October 29, 2022, at 10 AM
You are invited to join Longmont’s Halloween Parade, where ghosts and goblins will be haunting downtown Longmont. After the parage, enjoy Longmont’s trick or treat street. Paraders line up at 9:45 AM in Roosevelt Park.
Munchkin Masquerade
When: Monday, October 31, 2022, from 3 PM – 6 PM
The Boulder Fall Festivals list wouldn’t be complete without the Munchkin Masquerade! Each year, Downtown Boulder is invaded by thousands of tiny ghosts & goblins, dinosaurs & dragons, fairies & princes, superheroes and animals of every size trick-or-treating along Pearl Street for the Munchkin Masquerade. There will be over 100 places handing out treats along the Pearl Street Mall. Munchkin Masquerade will be held on the Pearl Street Mall, Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302. This event is FREE.
